First steps

Sandi Larson, ’91, hikes Duluth trails every day and estimates she’s covered over 10,000 miles since 2012. What started as a way to get outside with her dog has grown into a healthy habit and the formation of Women Hike Duluth, a community hiking initiative led by Larson and the City of Duluth’s Parks and Recreation department.

“I want to help people find their way,” Larson said.

For Larson, the path to realizing that purpose started at UMD, where she earned a bachelor of arts in communication with minors in English and history. During her time as an undergrad, she enjoyed volunteering, competing with the Alpine Ski Team, and engaging in courses that “helped me to have a broader understanding of the world.”

After graduating, Larson spent time living in Portland, Oregon, and the Twin Cities, where she worked a variety of jobs in publishing, nonprofit, law, and manufacturing, in addition to “a stint in entrepreneurship,” she said. While she gained valuable experience from each new job, she felt like she had yet to find her true calling. Eventually, her path led back to UMD, where she worked in the Chancellor’s office in administrative support and later at the UMD Center for Economic Development.

“When I landed at the Center for Economic Development, that was where I had that ‘this is what I want to be when I grow up’ moment,” she said.

Helping owners of small businesses navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship felt rewarding, and working within higher education inspired her own pursuit of knowledge within the master of liberal studies program. Through this program, Larson explored interdisciplinary study in subjects that piqued her interest. Her courses ranged from lean manufacturing, to education, to leadership and development courses. “It took my skills to a whole other level,” she said.

Larson's path was clear, and she was hitting her stride. And then, the center closed, and she was out of work.

Step and pivot

At a crossroads in her professional career, Duluth’s trails provided Larson with the space and time to reflect on where she’s been and look forward to what’s ahead. Rain or shine, there’s never a day Larson doesn’t hike.

“I don't always have to stay on the same path, because there might be an opportunity off in another direction,” she said.

When Larson began her daily hikes back in 2012, she formed the Facebook page “Hike Duluth”. She posted pictures from her daily hikes, and the page quickly gained traction with over 15,000 followers. The same summer, the City of Duluth began an initiative to encourage more women to get outside and recruited community volunteers to lead outdoor activities. They asked Larson to lead the hiking group. “I talked with the City of Duluth Parks and Recreation, and Women Hike Duluth was born. 

At first, Larson wasn’t sure if she would enjoy coordinating group hikes — hiking alone with her dog had become a familiar and comfortable routine. That feeling of trepidation quickly faded as she “realized the value of connecting with other women,” she said. “As the women started arriving for this hike, I stopped counting at 125,” she said. “Clearly, we struck a chord.” Those inaugural group hikes also reminded her of what brings her the most joy: community engagement.

“I’m expanding other people’s horizons,” she said.

Destinations

“I’m a helper,” Larson said. “I want to help people start their businesses. I want to help them be active and engaged.”

With her values defined, Larson stepped back into the job market. She’s now the director of the Women’s Business Alliance at the Entrepreneur Fund, where she connects women to business resources. The work involves a lot of advising, idea feasibility, business expansion, marketing, taxes, and more — it’s familiar terrain for Larson.

“My life has really become focused on helping women connect and grow and learn and be active and engaged,” she said.

Women Hike Duluth has grown from its inaugural four hikes to monthly hikes. The city provides necessary equipment like snowshoes for winter months, and there are several wheelchair-accessible outings planned each year at sites like Brighton Beach, the Duluth Lakewalk, and Chambers Grove Park. Larson also manages the group’s private Facebook page, which has more than 4,000 members. Some women connected with the group before deciding to move to Duluth, a realization that showed Larson that a destination isn’t always a place — sometimes it’s a community of support.

Her advice for current students who are just beginning their journey is to stay true to yourself, to your values and be comfortable with change, because “One little tip of the paddle gets you turning to move towards where you want to be,” she said.